AMEX waived AF after upgrade from Plat to Reserve

[Anonymous]

I am a DM used to have a Amex delta plat after the annual fee increased to 195 and when AF come due I asked for a retention offer. It's funny how it went because I really show no intention of canceling the card but rather say that I just think that the New AF Is too high and I spend a decent amount of money as a 19 year old. I would like to get some spending offers that if I spend a certain amount in a period of time I can get some extra miles to offset the fees. Showing that I have intention to use the card more.

Agent was really friendly and review my account and such. He lead me to say that or implied that I'm intended to cancel the card so that he can give me offer I believe. He said: so you're thinking of canceling the card right?

So again I said that I just think the new fee is too hefty. He asked again and as soon as I said yes he proceed and look for offers.

When he came back, he tried to sell me the card benefits and I shut it down by saying that I'm a DM and I already get all the benefits the card provided simply being a DM. Spend above 50k last year. Then he just say alright I can give 15k additional miles in this instance no spending or anything required. Is that ok? said yes right away ( already paid annual fee and first time calling for retention, was gonna keep the card anyways so I was pretty happy) (personally value SM pretty high actually at the 2cent value- book 25k one way first from SEA-JFK on any routing... SDC to SEA-LAX-JFK + flexibility of award being PM+, score)

Few months ago I upgraded my card to reserve (in plans as needed the extra MQM from the upgrade + almost at 25k spend so wanted more mqm as don't think I will hit 50k this year but 30k).
Weeks later received a mail from Amex customer services saying after reviewing my account they decided to waive my annual fee for the Reserve card. Have anyone experience this?

On the mail they said they would not give a prorated refund for the Amex plat and charge me the portion of fee for the remaining of the year for Reserve which they usually do. And they waive only applies to the basic card member so if I have additional card holder their annual fee will still hit.

I have not seen this reported so I'm just curious is it often that they do this.

<a href='http://postimg.org/image/hsv3jubxj/' target='_blank'><img src='http://s23.postimg.org/hsv3jubxj/image.jpg' border='0' alt="image" /></a>
link for the letter: http://postimg.org/image/hsv3jubxj/

[NRB525]

Congratulations on the upgrade! And thanks for the description of the process.

I doubt you will hear other stories on here related to the Reserve card, not many others are willing to bite that massive AF bullet. Getting it for no AF at least for the first year is a major win. If I understand how it works, it the Reserve card should put you at least one more step up in the queue when looking for upgrades. Each of the Delta SkyMiles cards, in it's own way, is a "buy your way up the ladder" sort of card.

In your siggy, the Platinum is only $3,800 limit? You must be paying pretty frequently to run $25k to $30k a year through the card. Have you tried for a CLI?

And are you signed up for the dual points on SPG with Delta? If you are well into Medallion status, that's a really good double stack of points to earn. I've signed up for it, but am not in either Medallion classification.